Reverend David T. Tyson, C.S.C., came to Holy Cross College after serving three years as St. André Bessette Director of Nonprofit Professional Development at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. 

Father Tyson is a native of Gary, Indiana.  A 1970 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, he went on to receive a master of theology degree from Notre Dame in 1974 and a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University Bloomington in 1980.  Father Tyson took his final vows in 1974 and was ordained at Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame in 1975.  

Father Tyson served at the University of Notre Dame in a variety of positions on the staff and faculty during the 1970’s and eighties.  He joined the university faculty after completing graduate studies where he served as an assistant and associate professor in the Department of Management.  During that decade he also served as executive assistant to the University president, Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., and as Vice President for Student Affairs.

In 1990, Father Tyson was elected president of the University of Portland.  During his thirteen years at Portland, Father Tyson oversaw a major expansion of the campus, a tripling of its endowment, and improvement of the University’s regional and national standing.

In 2003, he was elected the provincial superior of what was then called the Indiana Province of Holy Cross, the largest Holy Cross province in the world.  During his nine year tenure, Father Tyson choreographed the reincorporation of the Southern Province into the Indiana Province.  In 2009, he began a process which led to the merger of the Eastern Province into the Indiana Province.  That process was completed in 2011 with the title of the province being changed to the United States Province with over 500 members serving on three continents.  He led the US Province until the end of his term in 2012.

Father David Tyson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Notre Dame for his contributions to the University, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and Catholic higher education.  The University of Portland awarded Father Tyson its highest accolade, the Christus Magister Medal, for outstanding service to the University and Catholic higher education in the United States.  Over these years, he served on a variety of different boards, including Holy Cross College’s Board of Trustees, Notre Dame’s Board of Fellows and Board of Trustees, the Air Force’s Board of Visitors of Air University.  He also received the highest civilian award, the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, from the Department of the Army in providing guidance and support for military education in the context of a university.